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Updated: Aug 10, 2025
MicroRNA Based Liquid Biopsy: The Experience of the Plasma miRNA Signature Classifier MSC for Lung Cancer Screening
Published on: October 26, 2017
MicroRNAs in exhaled breath condensate: A pilot study of biomarker detection for lung cancer
Divyanjali Rai1, Bijay Pattnaik1, Sunil Bangaru1
1Breathomics in Respiratory Diseases Lab, Department of Pulmonary, Critical Care & Sleep Medicine, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India.
Introduction:
Quantitation of microRNAs secreted by lung cells can provide valuable information regarding lung health. Exhaled breath condensate (EBC) offers a non-invasive way to sample the secreted microRNAs, and could be used as diagnostic tools for lung cancer.
Materials & Methods:
EBC samples from twenty treatment-naïve patients with pathologically confirmed lung cancer and twenty healthy subjects were profiled for miRNAs expression. Selected microRNAs were further validated, using quantitative-PCR, in an independent set of 10 subjects from both groups.
Results:
A total of 78 miRNAs were found to be significantly upregulated in the EBC of lung cancer patients compared to the control group. Six of these 78 miRNAs were shortlisted for validation. Of these, miR-31-3p, let7i, and miR-449c were significantly upregulated, exhibited good discriminatory power.
Discussion:
Differential expression of miRNAs secreted by lung cells could be quantitated in EBC samples, and could be used as a potential non-invasive tool for early diagnosis of lung cancer.
